This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf”. I’ve modified this slightly and have listed ten books from my Goodreads ‘to-read’ shelf. This includes books that I already own as well as books that are on my wish list. I used a random number generator to select ten random titles.
1. Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell – Non-fiction about poverty in the two capital cities.
2. The Norman Pretender by Valerie Anand – A sequel to Gildenford, about the Norman Conquest of 1066.
3. The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna – A novel about a woman renovating a farmhouse in Croatia.
4. Appointment in Paris by Jane Thynne – A spy thriller set in the 1940s.
5. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O’Melveny – Historical fiction set in the 16th century.
6. Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes – Another spy novel by an author I still haven’t tried.
7. A Lost Lady by Willa Cather – One of several books by Cather I would like to read.
8. Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant – Historical fiction set in an Italian convent.
9. Zofloya, or The Moor by Charlotte Dacre – A 19th century Gothic novel
10. Transcription by Kate Atkinson – Yet another wartime espionage story!
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Have you read any of these? If so, let me know what you thought.
She Reads Novels 
I have not read any of these but have read other novels by Willa Cather, Sarah Dunant and Helen MacInnes. “Shadows on the Rock” is a favourite which I re read every year, capturing 17th century Quebec City and the French culture and life. It is absorbing and I can only assume that other Willa Cather novels would be the same.
I’ve read a few of Willa Cather’s books – The Professor’s House, My Antonia and Death Comes for the Archbishop. The last of those is my favourite so far. Shadows on the Rock is one I’m looking forward to reading at some point, so I’m glad you like it.
I will go and search for Death Comes for the Archbishop on your recommendation. I started My Antonia but it didn’t gel with me at all. I did wonder of it was because I come from Australia and I simply could not ‘see’ the landscape that is almost a character on its own.
Transcription is about the only Kate Atkinson book I haven’t read!
I’ve read most of her earlier books but seem to have lost track of the more recent ones. I need to start catching up!
I love Valerie Anand and Sarah Dunant.
I’ve only read one book so far by both of those authors but I did enjoy them!
I’ve been on a Willa Cather jag since the 1925 club, and I’d like to reread A Lost Lady. I only have one Cather novel left that I have not read (Lucy Gayheart), and I want to reread all of them. Her writing is always beautiful. Shadows on the Rock is a favorite of mine too.
Having just read a memoir of convent life, Cloistered, I’d be curious to read Sacred Hearts and get a fictional-historical perspective.
I’ve only read three Willa Cather books so far, so I have a lot to look forward to. Shadows on the Rock is on my TBR, as well as A Lost Lady.
We had Transcription in book group and I really enjoyed it. Not everyone did, we’d had a glut of WWII books and some members were fed up with it before they even started it.
I’m hopeful that I’ll enjoy Transcription too as I’ve enjoyed other Kate Atkinson books and I usually find WWII settings interesting.
I haven’t read any, Appointment in Paris sounds good!
It does! It’s the second in a series I started last year, so I’m looking forward to it.
The Orwell is fab!
I’ll try to get to it soon!
I’ve only read – and enjoyed! – the Atkinson, but I have reviewed Orwell’s The Clergyman’s Daughter which, I understand, draws on some of the same personal experiences he was to feature in Down and Out […].
That’s interesting – I haven’t read The Clergyman’s Daughter yet but it’s also on my TBR, along with Down and Out.
I read Transcription last month and loved it. Goodreads tells me I’ve read Sacred Hearts but it must have been a long time ago. I’d like to read more Willa Cather.
I’m glad you loved Transcription. I’ve read and enjoyed most of Kate Atkinson’s earlier books, but for some reason haven’t read any of her recent ones.
I loved sacred hearts, I might read it again one day! And the book of madness and cures is also on my list.
I think I’ve only read The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant so I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. I’m pleased you loved Sacred Hearts!
Lots of interesting books on your list this week! And such a fun variety, too. I’ve only read the Willa Cather, which I did like. 😀
I’ve read ‘Down & Out…’ and have ‘Transcription’ in a pile somewhere. I haven’t read any Atkinson (yet!) but I did like the ‘recent’ TV adaptation of one of her books.
I love Kate Atkinson’s books! I hope we both enjoy Transcription whenever we have time to read it.
Oh I LOVED Sacred Hearts, always up for a nun novel! I remember being impressed by The Hired Man as well when I read it about a decade ago.
I’m looking forward to Sacred Hearts! Nun novels are usually interesting. I’m glad you liked The Hired Man as well – I’ve read one of Aminatta Forna’s other books but can’t remember much about it.